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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Frantic hunt for Haiti survivors | Frantic hunt for Haiti survivors |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Rescue teams have been working through the night under floodlights at the site of a school in Haiti that collapsed with several hundred children inside. | Rescue teams have been working through the night under floodlights at the site of a school in Haiti that collapsed with several hundred children inside. |
| At least 75 people are now known to have died, with more than 120 injured, when the three-storey building in Port-au-Prince caved in. | |
| The toll could rise as it is thought many people are still trapped. | The toll could rise as it is thought many people are still trapped. |
| UN and charity workers are at the scene and the US has said it is sending a team of search and rescue experts. | UN and charity workers are at the scene and the US has said it is sending a team of search and rescue experts. |
| This is a tragic situation, especially since children are involved Henrietta Fore, USAID In pictures: Haiti school collapse | This is a tragic situation, especially since children are involved Henrietta Fore, USAID In pictures: Haiti school collapse |
| Hundreds of rescuers joined the search effort to free people from the wreckage of La Promesse College, a church-run school in the suburb of Petionville. | Hundreds of rescuers joined the search effort to free people from the wreckage of La Promesse College, a church-run school in the suburb of Petionville. |
| But the Associated Press reports that crowds of onlookers and desperate relatives of those missing have hampered the arrival of heavy machinery. | But the Associated Press reports that crowds of onlookers and desperate relatives of those missing have hampered the arrival of heavy machinery. |
| Engineers from MINUSTAH, the UN mission in Haiti, and members of the Haitian Red Cross were at the scene, helping remove heavy pieces of concrete, while UN peacekeepers and local police held back the crowds. | Engineers from MINUSTAH, the UN mission in Haiti, and members of the Haitian Red Cross were at the scene, helping remove heavy pieces of concrete, while UN peacekeepers and local police held back the crowds. |
| Some rescuers have been digging through the rubble with their bare hands. | Some rescuers have been digging through the rubble with their bare hands. |
| The site contains a kindergarten as well as a primary and secondary school and it is thought there were between 200 and 700 children inside the building when the first floor caved in. | The site contains a kindergarten as well as a primary and secondary school and it is thought there were between 200 and 700 children inside the building when the first floor caved in. |
| The US has said it is sending a team of experts, rescue dogs and specialist equipment to Haiti and was working alongside the Haitian government to provide immediate assistance. | The US has said it is sending a team of experts, rescue dogs and specialist equipment to Haiti and was working alongside the Haitian government to provide immediate assistance. |
| "This is a tragic situation, especially since children are involved," said USAID administrator Henrietta Fore. | "This is a tragic situation, especially since children are involved," said USAID administrator Henrietta Fore. |
| Neighbouring Dominican Republic has promised to send two helicopters to help the rescue effort. | Neighbouring Dominican Republic has promised to send two helicopters to help the rescue effort. |
| 'Only son' | 'Only son' |
| Nadia Lochard, of the civil protection bureau, said it could confirm 50 teachers and children had died and dozens were injured. | Nadia Lochard, of the civil protection bureau, said it could confirm 50 teachers and children had died and dozens were injured. |
| I saw all the kids getting pulled out. But I didn't see mine Nicholas, Haitian parent | I saw all the kids getting pulled out. But I didn't see mine Nicholas, Haitian parent |
| She said "numerous" children were trapped in the rubble. | She said "numerous" children were trapped in the rubble. |
| "We have signs that they are still alive and we are organising help to try to save them," said Ms Lochard. | "We have signs that they are still alive and we are organising help to try to save them," said Ms Lochard. |
| Rescuers fear many more people are still trapped in the rubble | Rescuers fear many more people are still trapped in the rubble |
| Relatives gathered around the school, crying and screaming and searching for their children. | Relatives gathered around the school, crying and screaming and searching for their children. |
| "I have four kids in this school and I have not found any of them," said one woman. | "I have four kids in this school and I have not found any of them," said one woman. |
| One man, Nicholas, said he heard a crash and thought it could be the school. | One man, Nicholas, said he heard a crash and thought it could be the school. |
| "When I got there I saw all the kids getting pulled out. But I didn't see mine," he said. | "When I got there I saw all the kids getting pulled out. But I didn't see mine," he said. |
| Josiane Dandin said her 15-year-old son had been killed. "He's my only son, I don't know what I'm going to do," she said. | Josiane Dandin said her 15-year-old son had been killed. "He's my only son, I don't know what I'm going to do," she said. |
| Investigation | Investigation |
| There has been no official comment on the cause of the collapse, but the BBC's Andy Gallacher says residents in the area suspect the school was poorly rebuilt after it partially collapsed several years ago. | There has been no official comment on the cause of the collapse, but the BBC's Andy Gallacher says residents in the area suspect the school was poorly rebuilt after it partially collapsed several years ago. |
| Witnesses said one floor collapsed, bringing down the rest of the building | Witnesses said one floor collapsed, bringing down the rest of the building |
| Reports say that the upper floor of the school was still under construction. | Reports say that the upper floor of the school was still under construction. |
| A French teacher at the school, Jimmy Germain, said people living downhill from the school had abandoned their land, fearing the building could collapse. | A French teacher at the school, Jimmy Germain, said people living downhill from the school had abandoned their land, fearing the building could collapse. |
| Associated Press quoted police as saying that the preacher who ran the school could face criminal charges. | Associated Press quoted police as saying that the preacher who ran the school could face criminal charges. |
| Haitian President Rene Preval visited the site to comfort relatives and oversee rescue efforts. | Haitian President Rene Preval visited the site to comfort relatives and oversee rescue efforts. |
| He said: "What's important to us now, beside all the sorrow and sadness we feel for the families, is to bring help to those who are still under the rubble and see if we can get them out." | He said: "What's important to us now, beside all the sorrow and sadness we feel for the families, is to bring help to those who are still under the rubble and see if we can get them out." |
| Meanwhile, officials said an investigation would be launched. | Meanwhile, officials said an investigation would be launched. |
| "We are going to ask the minister of education to make an inspection of all the schools built in the same way," Senator Yvon Bissereth told AFP. | "We are going to ask the minister of education to make an inspection of all the schools built in the same way," Senator Yvon Bissereth told AFP. |
| He appealed for heavy search and rescue equipment to be sent to the island. | He appealed for heavy search and rescue equipment to be sent to the island. |
| Correspondents say Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere where mudslides and poor construction are commonplace. | Correspondents say Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere where mudslides and poor construction are commonplace. |
| Are you in Petionville? Have you been affected by the incident? Send you comment using the form below: | Are you in Petionville? Have you been affected by the incident? Send you comment using the form below: |